CHAPTEK II. 



KIKUYU TO THE VICTORIA. 



A FTEK Kikuyu commences the uninhabited 

 ■ region which extends as far as the villages 

 of Kavirondo. 



I was obliged to buy twenty-two donkeys to 

 carry food for my porters. These animals were 

 quite unsubjugated and became a perfect nuisance. 

 Their ingenuity in getting rid of their loads was 

 extraordinary, and every morning each required 

 some five men to load him. 



After leaving the second swamp, one day out 

 from Kikuyu forest, we crossed the watershed into 

 the " meridional rift valley," along which lie the 

 Lakes Elmenteita, Naivasha, and Nakuru. I was 

 disagreeably surprised to see a large party of 

 Masai passing down the valley just when I was 

 about to descend into it. These were Elmoran 

 on the war-path, probably five or six hundred 

 warriors, all bachelors, and under thirty years of 

 age. They are tall and well-built, and walk at 

 a tremendous pace, with a curious long, lolloping 

 step, and with the little bells on their legs tinkling 

 as they go. I was at the time a little in front of 



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